I’m not sure if you noticed this, but there’s a reason your makeup never looks as well done as it’s supposed to look according to fashion magazines and commercials: because even after they plaster on layer after layer of makeup, they still usually “accentuate” it by using Photoshop. Guess how many mascara ads use fake lashes? Higher. Nope, higher. Anyway, Taylor Swift‘s mascara ad for CoverGirl has been discontinued in the states after it was discovered that it was enhanced with Photoshop. Turns out, you’re not allowed to lie in your ads about the effectiveness of your product. Who knew? MTV reports:
The crackdown on Photoshop has begun! The latest CoverGirl ad featuring Taylor Swift modeling NatureLuxe Mousse mascara will never run again due to “enhanced post-production” and “Photoshopping” to make unrealistic expectations for eyelashes, according to Business Insider. What? You’re telling me Tay Tay’s million-mile long lashes aren’t real?! Sadface times a million. Procter & Gamble, the parent company of CoverGirl, did disclose in fine print that the image was enhanced but still decided to discontinue running the ad. The National Advertising Division is cracking down on advertising that is misleading to consumers, and director Andrea Levine said, “You can’t use a photograph to demonstrate how a cosmetic will look after it is applied to a woman’s face and then—in the mice type—have a disclosure that says ‘okay, not really.’”
Look, Photoshop is great, when you actually need it. When you don’t, giving someone Photoshop is like giving a small child a hammer: all of a sudden, everything needs to be hammered. I mean yes, it’s great when they make my arms look a bit bigger in pictures (they look like they belong on a velociraptor, I swear) but using Photoshop in mascara ads to make eyelashes look bigger would be like removing your grandmother from the family picture and replacing her with a swordfish: It kind of defeats the purpose.